Page 43 of All We Need

“One chance,Booth.Igave you one last chance.”Iraise my pointer and thumb between us, barely touching. “Theice is thisthin.Stopmaking my job difficult and remind yourself that you wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for me.Idon’t want to be here anymore than you want me to.”

His nostrils flare.

Shit.Irealize my slipup, but it’s too late.

“Then why are you here?”Hishead tilts as he watches me closely, searching for answers.

“If you want me to trust you, then stop throwing tantrums.”

He throws his head back in laughter.Nothinglike the carefree rumble earlier. “Fora moment,Isaw a different side to you.”

I straighten to my full height, ready for whatever he has to say.Buthe surprises me.

“Out on the water today, you actually looked content.Free.Wedon’t know each other, andIwon’t lie, when we first met,Iwanted to change that.”Amuscle ticks in his jaw. “Fuck, for some insane reason,Istill do.Youwaltzed in here, without a clue how it’s been the last few years.Nothingis easy about running a restaurant in the middle of nowhere, relying on tourist season, and hoping the weather doesn’t sabotage your forecasted revenue.”

Like a balloon, the fight hisses out of me and my shoulders deflate.Somethingtells meBoothdoesn’t lose his temper often, and from the tension in his body, he’s struggling with it.

We’re as stubborn as each other.Neitherone of us wants to back down.Theair crackles between us, popping and sparking with our animosity.

“You want me gone?ThenproveIcan trustyou.”Ipoke a finger in the center of his chest.Thethumping of his heart vibrates down my arm. “Proveto me you won’t make rash decisions simply to get a rise out of me.Iknow you’re talented, so don’t throw it away because you’re bullheaded.Youwant to be enemies?That’syour call.ButIpromise you’ll throw in the towel before the last round is over.”

In the blink of an eye, his large hand encompasses my wrist, andIsmash into his chest.

“Don’t tease me with a good time.”Hisheated stare evolves; the devious smirk morphing into a megawatt smile, dimples on full display when he finds me watching him.It’sthe blue flame eating up his irises that gets my attention, though.

I snatch my hand back and put some much-needed distance between us.

“Those dimples won’t do much to save you.Luckyfor you, you have a few days to get your act together.”Ispin and stride to the door.Witha chaste glance over my shoulder,Isay, “MerryChristmas,Booth.Don’tmake me regret giving you another chance.”

Before he can respond, the door slams closed behind me.

A week with my family is exactly whatIneed.Far, far away fromBoothSadler.

HadIstayed another second, feeling the scorch of his eyes or the warmth of his touch,Iwould have said exactly whatIwas thinking.

Or worse.

I might have gone against all my rational instincts and kissed that stupid grin off his face.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

booth

The storm arriveswith a vendetta againstSuttonBay.

You can’t see two feet in front of you thanks to the wall of white blasting through the streets.Thetown was prepared; coming together to help older residents stock up on food and essentials, and emergency kits and drinking water were handed out at the town hall.

Everyone was frustrated that it hit us three days beforeChristmas.Flightsacross theNortheastwere canceled, leaving people stranded and unable to spend the holidays with their loved ones.Therestaurant—like most businesses in town—is closed until it’s safe to reopen.They’rehoping it’ll pass byChristmasEve.

I knewI’dmade a good call staying inTheNook.Momwasn’t too pleased, but she knewI’dbe safe out here thanks toDex’sapocalyptic prepping skills.Lastnight,Idrove to the cabin twenty minutes out of town.Aftergetting the key from the drop box,Ihustled inside, started a fire, and unboxed myTreviFountainLEGOset.WithnoTV, this was a quiet place of solitude to escape to.

Alessandra had been absent since she left my house.Irefused to ask where she was, and didn’t care.

Okay, soIcared a little.Blamesuspicion.Nothingelse.

TheNook, like my house, is open plan.ButwhereIhave a separate bathroom,Dexinstalled a bathtub out in the open overlooking the forest.Thefloor-to-ceiling window has no curtains, making you feel like you’re bathing in the wild.Cedarcovers the entire cabin, the reddish-brown wood creating a moody, rustic vibe.

There’s a small room with a toilet and sink, and the little kitchenette doesn’t have much space, butImake do.

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